Ivan Radic / CC

The town of Fort Frances is looking at developing a microgrid.

The Fort Frances Power Corporation has been quietly working behind the scenes on the project for several months.

The town is now seeking someone to study its feasibility.

The idea is that the town would be powered through the microgrid, with the capacity of being connected to the main hydro one or operating as a stand-alone.

As a stand-alone system, the microgrid normally takes its electricity from existing sources.

There are private proposals in the works for wind generation and a solar farm.

The study on the project is not expected to take place until next year.

This study will involve the following:
a. Develop suitable business model(s).
b. Assessment of engineering design & technologies.
c. Assessment of governance, government policy & regulatory requirements.
d. Assessment of linkages between the implementation of a microgrid and the achievement of key strategic objectives.
e. Development of a community-wide microgrid implementation plan.
f. Drafting of a feasibility study finding report, including recommendations and next-steps, to be presented in-person to the Mayor & Council and members of the Technical Advisory Committee.
g. The successful firm will be required to travel to the Town of Fort Frances as needed to complete the study. An in-person assessment of local infrastructure and lands will be required.